Final answer:
During the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Abraham Lincoln countered accusations of favoring black equality by stating he did not support social or political racial equality but was against the dehumanization of black people and the institution of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, the issue of racial equality was a central topic. Stephen Douglas accused Abraham Lincoln of being a 'Black Republican' and suggested that only those who were in favor of black equality would support Lincoln. Countering this, Lincoln stated, "I will say then that I am not...in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races...I am as much as any other man in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race." He differentiated between political and social equality and the fundamental rights that he believed should not be denied to black people, and he argued against their dehumanization. Lincoln's remarks show that although he did not advocate for complete racial equality, he opposed the principle of slavery as dehumanizing and unjust.